One Punch Man: I am Saitama

Genos and Saitama sprinted side by side through the dense forest trails of a mountainous region, dry leaves and dirt kicking up beneath their feet as they advanced at impossible speeds. The trees blurred past them in a mixture of green and brown, the rustle of the wind barely audible over the thrum of Genos's internal systems tracking signals ahead.

"Sensei," said Genos, not breaking stride, "I didn't think we'd be running the entire way."

"Why's that?" Saitama asked, glancing at him with mild curiosity.

"I assumed you had the ability to fly. At least, that was my hypothesis based on the combat footage and your speed feats."

Saitama blinked. Why the hell would he think that? he thought, trying not to break pace.

"I don't know where you got that from. Humans can't fly, Genos. You know that, right?"

Genos nodded slowly, as if internally adjusting several data entries. "Understood. It was an incorrect assumption."

There was a brief silence, filled only by the rhythmic pounding of their feet against the soft mountain terrain.

"I think it's amazing how you're never late for a battle, Master," Genos added, completely shifting the subject.

Saitama furrowed his brow and sighed internally. What does that have to do with flying? That's not even in the same train of thought.

"Well… I mean, it depends. I usually am late. Kind of a thing with me." He scratched his cheek. "Sometimes I get lucky."

Suddenly, the trees cleared before them, and the path opened to reveal a tall, black monolithic structure tucked between two cliff walls. It rose eight stories high, sleek and windowless, with strange antennas and mechanical arms protruding from its upper levels like spider legs. A single metal entrance sat at its base, half-concealed by moss and vines. It looked more like a bunker than a lab.

They both came to a halt.

"That's got to be it," said Saitama, scanning the building with casual disinterest.

"Yes, this matches the coordinates the mole provided. I am detecting several energy signatures inside—elevated activity levels and what seems to be advanced robotics," Genos reported, his eyes glowing faintly as he accessed his sensors.

"Okay," Saitama said, brushing some dust off his sleeves. "So what we should do first is—"

BOOM!

Before he could finish his sentence, Genos raised both arms and unleashed a massive barrage of incineration blasts. Twin beams of plasma erupted from his palms, engulfing the entire front side of the building in blinding light. The surrounding forest trembled from the force of the explosion, leaves and birds scattering in every direction. Trees cracked under the pressure wave. The once-monolithic lab was now a half-collapsed crater, rubble and scorched steel melting into the soil.

Ash and smoke billowed in the air as the debris slowly settled. The scorched scent of ozone and burning circuitry filled the forest.

"Target successfully eradicated," Genos declared, lowering his arms.

Saitama stood beside him, blinking slowly, mouth half open. He looked at the smoldering crater in front of him, then at Genos, then back again.

Without a word, he raised his hand and delivered a casual but firm chop to the top of Genos's head.

WHAP!

"Gah!" Genos flinched slightly, looking up at his master with visible confusion.

"That's for not waiting, you anxious little toaster," said Saitama with a tired expression.

Seriously, this kid's like a golden retriever with death rays. He sighed, rubbing the bridge of his nose. What if there were civilians inside? What if it was the wrong building? What if I actually wanted to have a normal conversation for once instead of watching things explode for the tenth time today?

"Ouch. Sensei… did I do something wrong?"

"Yes. In fact, you did." Saitama crossed his arms. "Lesson two—don't just blow things up before confirming what's inside. Especially not giant suspicious-looking lairs in the middle of nowhere. They might be full of sleeping babies or kittens. Or both."

"I… I understand," Genos said solemnly, bowing his head in shame.

"Well," Saitama muttered, eyeing the destruction, "too late now. Let's hope that guy, Genus, had a backup copy of himself somewhere in the rubble. Would save us the trouble of climbing in."

Suddenly, a mechanical thud echoed through the forest. From the shadows of the trees emerged a large figure—tall, broad, and heavily armored. His chest glinted with reinforced plating, and his arms were thick with cybernetic muscle. Two glowing red eyes flickered to life under a black visor.

"Halt," said the figure in a distorted voice. "I am Armored Gorilla, an elite combat unit of the House of Evolu—"

He stopped mid-sentence as he looked over the still-smoking crater.

"What the hell…?" he muttered, scanning the obliterated base. "Where's the lab?!"

Before he could process another thought, Saitama stepped forward and casually launched a straight punch toward the cyborg. It wasn't even at full strength. The moment his fist connected with the gorilla's chest, the poor bastard went flying like a cannonball, crashing through several trees before vanishing into the side of a distant mountain with a thunderous boom.

Saitama dusted off his knuckles. "Yeah… not in the mood for long intros."

He sighed and looked around the crater Genos had left earlier, trying to recall what the layout was supposed to be.

If I remember right, there was a secret entrance to the underground levels... unless Genos blew it to hell.

Just then, Genos—who had been scanning the area—called out. "Sensei! Over here. I've found a sealed steel gate beneath the rubble!"

Bingo.

Saitama walked over as Genos tore open the thick, reinforced steel like it was cardboard, revealing a dark staircase leading downward into the earth.

"Huh. So they do have a basement," Saitama said, peering into the dark. "Guess this is where the real fun is."

"Shall we proceed, Sensei?" Genos asked, his tone ever calm and formal.

"Yeah," Saitama said, descending the steps. "Let's see what kind of creepy science bunker they're hiding down here."

They descended slowly, their steps echoing along the cold, metallic stairwell. The walls were lined with faded warning signs, ventilation pipes, and rusted brackets. The further they went, the damper and colder the air became.

"Hey Genos," Saitama said casually, "before you nuked the place… did you check if there was anyone still inside?"

Genos nodded without hesitation. "I scanned the building before launching the attack. My sensors did not detect any living organisms within the structure."

Saitama raised an eyebrow. "No people? What about unconscious ones? Or hidden ones? Or—y'know—people who don't breathe like normal?"

Genos hesitated for a second, then replied, "...I cannot guarantee absolute accuracy under such parameters. But I calculated the probability of civilian presence to be below 2.3%. The tactical advantage of striking first outweighed the risk."

Saitama sighed again. "Right. Tactical advantage. Let's maybe not vaporize everything next time, alright? Just in case."

"Understood, Sensei."

Eventually, the stairs opened into a long, sterile hallway. It stretched at least fifty meters ahead, illuminated by a series of dim fluorescent lights hanging from the ceiling. The floor was metallic and reinforced. The walls were bare, save for the occasional red pipe or wire bundle running along the ceiling. The entire place felt more like a bunker than a laboratory—cold, industrial, and designed to withstand a siege.

The only sound was the soft buzz of the lights and the quiet hum of Genos's internal servos.

"Not exactly a cozy place," Saitama muttered, stuffing his hands in his pockets. "Looks like something out of a bad sci-fi horror movie."

"Be on guard, Sensei," Genos warned, his eyes glowing faintly. "I'm picking up two life signs. One is large and unstable—the other is humanoid, but panicked. They're approaching rapidly."

"Huh?"

Before they could react, a thunderous crashing noise echoed from deeper in the facility. Screaming metal. Shattered walls. Something big and fast was rampaging through the underground corridors like a derailed train.

From around the far bend of the hallway, a thunderous rumble echoed—each step like a jackhammer slamming into the reinforced bunker floor. Then the source came into view.

A hulking figure barreled toward them at full speed, his clawed feet ripping up steel and concrete as he charged. He stood nearly three meters tall, his massive, grotesquely muscular body coated in thick black chitin that glistened under the flickering fluorescent lights. The beast's head resembled that of a rhinoceros beetle, with a horned crest and compound eyes, yet it bore a twisted humanoid snarl. Two crimson irises burned with primal, manic fury.

And in his left hand—dangling like a ragdoll—was a man in a battered lab coat.

"YEAH!! HERE WE GO!! WHICH ONE IS IT?!" roared the monster, his voice guttural and vibrating through the walls like a war drum.

"The one on the right!!" shouted the man in his grasp—none other than Dr. Genus, pale and disheveled, gripping the beetle's wrist tightly to avoid being flung around.

"IN THAT CASE—YOU DON'T NEED THE ONE ON THE LEFT!!" howled Carnage Kabuto, veins bulging beneath his exoskeleton as he rocketed toward Genos with a killing blow, his fist cocked back and glowing with pure kinetic force.

But before the punch could land, Saitama had already moved.

In the span of a blink, he intercepted the incoming fist with one hand—and with the other, he delivered a clean, compact punch to Kabuto's side.

BOOM.

The air warped. The force echoed like a sonic shockwave.

Carnage Kabuto was sent flying sideways like a missile, smashing through a reinforced wall and carving a crater into the next chamber.

Saitama's face remained serious, but his inner thoughts burned with contempt.

Fucking psychopath. Definitely one of the worst kinds—super strength with zero brakes.

He turned to Genos, who had instinctively stepped back, his systems on full alert.

"You all right?"

"Y-Yes, Sensei," Genos replied, voice steady but shaken. "Thank you."

"Good. Listen," Saitama said, placing a hand on Genos's shoulder. "Stay back this time. He's not like the others—you can't take him on yet. Let me handle this one, okay?"

Genos hesitated. He didn't want to admit it, but deep down he knew his master was right. He clenched his fists and gave a firm nod. "Understood."

Saitama turned toward the gaping hole in the wall and stepped through it.

On the other side was a massive, dimly lit training chamber—steel walls warped from years of destructive tests. The ceiling was high, filled with hanging lights and surveillance pods. Dr. Genus was slumped on the ground to the side, his glasses broken, rubbing his shoulder in pain as he stared at the scene unfolding.

Carnage Kabuto peeled himself off the wall with a guttural snarl. Dust and debris fell off his body as he straightened up, his eyes glowing even brighter with hatred.

"YOU SHOULDN'T HAVE DONE THAT," he growled, veins pulsating under his exoskeleton. "I'M THE STRONGEST LIFEFORM EVER CREATED—AND NOW I'LL KILL YOU."

Saitama didn't flinch. His gaze was cold, focused.

Alright… no mistakes. He's stronger than Beast King by far, and way faster. But more importantly—he's unstable. If he snaps and goes for Genos or that scientist, things could go south real fast.

"Bring it, then!!" Saitama shouted, his tone filled with authority and fire as he cracked his knuckles. "Let's see how strong evolution made you!"

Carnage Kabuto let out a beastly scream and charged again, the entire bunker trembling with every thunderous step.

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